From Concept to Creation: The Engineering Behind Omni's Tools
February 2025
Author: Omni Cubed
At Omni Cubed, innovation isn't just about coming up with new ideas, it’s about constantly refining, improving, and staying close to the real needs of fabricators and installers. From the very beginning, our development process has been rooted in observation, problem-solving, and ensuring that our tools actually make a difference.
Innovation Through Observation
Our earliest products weren’t born out of abstract brainstorming sessions; they came from watching fabricators and installers work. Whenever we would visit job sites to take photos of our products in action, we’d notice other struggles and inefficiencies. That’s how we got ideas for new tools. This hands-on, customer-driven approach remains the foundation of our product development process today.
Take the Lam Clamp™, for example. It originated from the realization that fabricators were struggling with inefficient and cumbersome C-clamps when laminating countertops. By simply watching the process, our founders saw an opportunity to design a better tool, one specifically tailored to the unique needs of fabricators.
The Balance Between Improvement and Overhaul
One of the biggest challenges in product development is deciding whether to refine an existing tool or develop something entirely new. Early in our history, we could quickly jump into new ideas without hesitation. Today, we take a more strategic approach, balancing innovation with market demand, cost-effectiveness, and real-world needs. This long-term, strategic thinking ensures that we continue innovating in ways that make a difference.
The Cost of Poorly Thought-Out Innovation
Not all innovation is good innovation. In our industry, we’ve seen competitors continue selling the same designs for decades without improvement. On the other hand, we’ve also seen companies create expensive, over-engineered solutions that don’t meet the needs of the people using them.
For example, a $40,000+ tool was designed to help install heavy glass panels. The problem? It was so bulky and impractical that most installers simply didn’t use it, opting instead for manual lifting. That’s where Omni thrives: designing practical, effective, and affordable solutions that people will use.
Looking to the Future
As we look ahead, we’re excited about the growth of large format tile and glass industries, where we see endless opportunities to apply our experience and problem-solving approach. The demand for safer, more efficient job-site handling tools is growing, and we’re committed to continuing our hands-on approach—observing, listening, and delivering solutions that truly make a difference.
At Omni Cubed, innovation isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about refining, improving, and ensuring that every tool we create makes work easier, safer, and more efficient. That’s the development process that got us here, and it’s the one that will carry us into the future.
